The Hornets wrapped Summer League with one last look at two rookies who left Vegas on very different notes, and the final game gave the team a little bit of everything: a dominant interior showing from Hannes and a cleaner, more encouraging outing from Anderson.
Hannes was the clear bright spot. He finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds, good for his third double-double of Summer League and his second straight.
The only real nitpick was that he didn’t record a block, though he did chip in a steal. Beyond the box score, he kept showing the kind of edge that stands out in this setting.
He wasn’t just absorbing contact - he was creating it, and that led to a couple of and-one finishes that swung momentum.
For a player taken 14th overall, that kind of consistency matters. If he keeps building on this stretch, it’s not hard to imagine him pushing toward the starting lineup sooner rather than later. By the end of the week, the Hornets had every reason to feel good about how his Summer League went.
Anderson’s night in the Hornets’ 92-90 loss to Sacramento was more uneven, but it still gave the team something to work with. The 18th overall pick had struggled at times in Vegas with both his shot and his ability to steer the offense, and those issues didn’t disappear in the finale. Even so, he posted 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds, which marked a step forward.
The shooting line was still rough - 4-11 overall and 1-6 from three - but he was better at creating opportunities for others, especially when he looked down court for easy baskets. Hornet coaches still have questions about whether he’s ready to be a reliable backup, but this game at least pointed in the right direction.
Vegas is over for the Hornets now. The real work starts next.
In Other News...
Hornets Just Made A Defining Coby White Decision
The Hornets spent the offseason reshaping the roster, but one of their clearest moves came with Coby White. Charlotte re-signed the guard and, in the process, signaled that he was part of the plan regardless of how the rest of the backcourt picture shook out. President of basketball operations and general manager Jeff Peterson said White was a priority signing independent of LaMelo Balls status, a notable detail given how much the team has changed around him.
With Ball now gone to Minnesota, White is positioned to step into a larger role as Charlotte sorts through the rest of its new-look lineup. Petersons comments suggest the Hornets viewed White as more than a fallback option, and that the front office would have pursued the move with or without the trade that altered the depth chart. For a team that made several trades and draft picks this summer, keeping White in place looks like one of the decisions that will define the next phase. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Young Core Just Sent A Complicated Summer League Message
The Hornets used Summer League in Las Vegas to take a closer look at the young group that arrived with last years draft class, and the early read was less about box scores than about roles. Coach Blaine Mueller said the staff wanted to see growth from Liam McNeeley, Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner in the areas that will matter once the games count, with each player asked to show a different layer of his game as Charlotte keeps sorting out who can help sooner rather than later.
McNeeley spent time handling more of the offense, James worked through facilitation duties, and Kalkbrenner was used in ways that tested his ability to create from the post while bringing more force around the rim. Hannes Steinbach and Tidjane Salaun were also part of the mix, with Steinbach leaning into physical play and Salaun focused on defensive execution, while undrafted signee Michael Ajayi gave the Hornets another promising look with his defensive versatility. The challenge now is turning those flashes into something more defined before the summer closes. [Read more 🡒]